Explained: How Inter Miami got eliminated from MLS Playoffs?

Inter Miami are out of the MLS Cup now! Yes, it might feel a bit different for the football fans who follow the major of the big soccer league, but it is how the format of Major League Soccer (MLS) is. After topping the Eastern Conference with the most points in the history of the league, Inter Miami CF can’t compete for the MLS title this season, as they lost in the playoffs to a ninth-place Atlanta United FC.

Led by the greatest ever Lionel Messi, Inter Miami were cruising fast this season, ending their Eastern Conference league phase with 74 points, after 34 games. The side registered 22 wins, eight draws, and only four losses. By doing so, the multi-starred team bagged the most points in the history of MLS, surpassing the record of the New England Revolution. 

As a result of such marvellous outcomes, Inter Miami bagged the MLS Supporter’s Shield and the Eastern Conference in the ongoing season. But now, everything seems to be in vain, as the greater goal of winning the prestigious MLS title won’t be possible.

Why are Inter Miami CF out of the MLS race?

As the MLS is structured, all clubs are placed into two different groups, based on the geographical divide: Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The teams initially play the league phase, where all sides lock horns against the others in their specific conference. 

After the league phase, the MLS play-offs happen. Here, the first seven teams qualify automatically, while the eighth and ninth fight against each other for a spot. After the eight teams are confirmed, they further play multi-legged matches, to emerge victorious, and reach the semi-finals. In the semis, the 4 teams of the Eastern Conference battle against the four sides of the Western, where the winners reach the final, and hence the winner is decided in the finals.

Inter Miami, having topped the Eastern Conference directly qualified for the play-offs of their conference. Being the toppers, they were scheduled to play Atlanta United, who finished ninth. In the playoffs, Miami won the first leg 2-1 but lost the second by the same scoreline.

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Since both teams were at level, they were scheduled to play a third leg. In the third league, they took the lead once, while opening the scoreline with a 17th-minute strike from Matias Rojas. But, they were soon down 2-1 by a couple of strikes in about five minutes after the opener.

To level things, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi struck a header in the 65th minute. But, this also was short-lived after the 76th-minute strike back from Atlanta United FC. After conceding the third, the table toppers failed to revive and thus lost 2-3. So, losing two legs, and winning only one in the playoffs cost Inter Miami their way out of the MLS Cup from the first round of playoffs itself.

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